Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP

Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP (Lothians)(SNP) has backed demands for tougher European-wide carbon emissions targets, emphasizing knock-on benefits for Scotland’s own targets. Climate change ministers from France, Germany and the UK have today united to call for the present European target to be lifted from 20% to 30% (based on 1990 emissions levels) – something which Ms Somerville sees as welcome in itself; but which will also make Scotland’s higher target of 42% by 2020 more readily achievable.

Ms Somerville, a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Climate Change Committee said:

"This is welcome news, and I think supports my view that the Scottish Parliament’s Climate Change Act sets out targets which are not only ambitious but also absolutely necessary if we are to be serious about tackling global warming. It’s pleasing that there is now at least the prospect of a European agreement on more ambitious emissions cuts despite the failure of last year’s Copenhagen summit to achieve a global deal. Not only is it the right thing for EU countries to be doing – it may also reignite global debate and stimulate other countries to follow suit.

Closer to home, it makes our own 2020 target more readily achievable. Even in the absence of European agreement the Scottish Government has admirably continued to aim for 42% reductions. That was so even when Climate Change experts were warning that in the absence of international consensus something like 38% might be more realistic. But if a European wide agreement can come from this, then the positive knock-on effect on carbon trading schemes will give Scotland an extra impetus in reaching for its world-leading climate change goals".

Published - July 2010